Cabinet structure with shelf attaching and supporting means



Feb. 2, 1965 R. J. EVANS 3,168,365

CABINET STRUCTURE WITH SHELF ATTACHING AND SUPPORTING MEANS Filed July 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG 3 FIG 4 l4 /0 yllg IV/I 2 HI W m ll w ,,/8 4-2 m 20 w I Q 1' 2a 5 a a I m w 73 a J n 3 i Q a 24' 3- w w g FIG.6 3 1- 47 2 INVENTOR 48 m [A a 46 m ROBERT J. EVANS m 47, Q BY "WEI-HIE L $444k, 7%

ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1965 R. .1. EVANS 3,

CABINET STRUCTURE WITH SHELF ATTACHING AND SUPPORTING MEANS Filed July 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ROBERT J. V FIG 12 E ANS BY (4x24 dh'um w w;

ATTON EYS United States Patent 3,168,365 CABINET STRUCTURE WITH SIELF ATTACHING AND SUPPOR'IHWG MEANS Robert J. Evans, Aurora, Ill., assignor to Aurora Equipment Company, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 12, 1963, Ser. No. 294,676 12 Claims. (Cl. 312351) The present invention relates generally to a cabinet structure which is capable of being used as a wardrobe or as a storage container, as desired. The present invention more particularly concerns a new and improved manner of securing shelving within the wardrobe or storage cabinet.

An important object of this invention is to provide new and improved means for securing shelves and clotheshanger racks interiorly of cabinets or other suitable structures.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide new and improved means for enabling cabinet shelves to be quickly and effectively assembled with a cabinet.

According to important features of my invention, I have provided a shelf which shelf has means for attachment to a cabinet comprising a U-shaped slidable clip mounted on-the underside of the shelf. The clip has one leg that is longer than an adjacent leg. The shelf has an inwardly turned retaining flange portion adjacent at least one of its ide walls and which portion is cooperable with the side wall in defining a channel-shaped guide with the shorter leg of the clip being slidably retained in assembly with the shelf by the channel-shaped guide. The shelf has another side wall disposed adjacent the aforesaid side wall that is provided with a slot and an end of the longer leg i extendible through the slot for locking the shelf to the cabinet. If desired, clips can be provided at all four corners of the shelf or clips can only be provided at the front corners of the shelf and hooks can be employed to secure rear corners of the shelf to a rear-cabinet wall.

According to other features of this invention, the longer leg of the clip has a locking groove adjacent its outer end for locked engagement with a wall surface of a cabinet.

Other features of the present invention relate to the shelf being provided with stops for limiting forward and rearward movement of the clip to prevent accidental detachment of the clip from the shelf.

Other objects and features of the present invention Will more fully become apparent in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating several embodiments and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a shelf;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a corner of the shelf;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a cabinet having the shelf mounted therein;

FIGURE 4 i an enlarged fragmentary vertical section illustrating the manner by which a rear edge of the shelf is attached with a rear-cabinet wall;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGURE 3 only illustrating a modified cabinet;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner of attachment of the rear margin of the shelf illustrated in FIGURE 5 to the cabinet;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of the shelf;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view with parts broken away to show internal structure as viewed on the line VIII-VIII looking in the direction indicated by the arrows as seen in FIGURE 7 only with the shelf being in an inverted position;

. FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view as seen on the line IXIX looking in the direction indicated by the ICC arrows as shown in FIGURE'7 only with the shelf bein in an inverted position;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line X-X looking in the direction indicated by the arrows as seen in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a clip for securing a shelf to a cabinet; and

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified type of cabinet having a shelf mounted therein.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicate generally a storage cabinet which may be comprised of any suitable material such as steel and the like. The cabinet 10 has a rear cabinet wall 11, side cabinet walls 12 and 13 and forward margins 14 and 15. These walls can be secured together in any suitable length. The forward margins are provided with slots '16 and the rear cabinet wall 11 is provided with shelf hooks 17. The slot 16 and the shelf hooks 17, provide means for enabling a shelf to be mounted within the cabinet. The hooks 17 are mounted on metal strips 18 which strips are welded or otherwise suitably attached to the rear cabinet wall '11.

A cabinet shelf 20 is provided for attachment with the cabinet. The shelf 20 is preferably formed from sheet metal such as steel and the like and include opposing shelf side walls 21 and 22 as well as front and rear side walls 23 and 24. These side walls are joined to a main shelf panel 25 disposed centrally of the side walls.

A hanger rack assembly 26 is mounted on an underside of the shelf and includes a pair of brackets 27 and 28 which are joined by bolts and nuts 29 to the shelf 20. A hanger rack 30 is mounted on the hanger rack brackets 27 and 28.

A series of U-shaped clips are provided for attaching the shelf 20 to the cabinet 10. The clips may be made of any suitable material such as steel and the like. The clips may be mounted at the four corners of the shelf or at the, front corners, as desired.

Each of the clips includes a short leg 36 and a long leg 37. The legs 36 and 37 are joined at the bottom of the U defined by the clip as indicated at 38. The long leg 37 is provided with a locking groove 37a for purposes which will be further discussed hereafter.

The longer leg 37 has an angled reinforcing portion 39 disposed between its opposite ends and engageable with an underside of the shelf panel 25, when the clip is mounted on the shelf. The angled reinforcing portion not only reinforces the leg 37 but also provides means to enable the clip to be manually grasped and moved into and out of locking engagement with the cabinet ledges,

The shelf is further provided with an inwardly turned flange retaining portion 40 which is comprised of a channel leg 40a that is turned essentially from shelf side wall 22 and a channel leg 4% and is formed essentially from the material in the shelf side wall 22 and in the main panel 25. The legs 40a and 40b operate with the side wall 22 and with the main panel 25 in defining a channel shaped guide 40c which is generally of a rectangular cross-sectional configuration slightly larger than the exterior dimension of the short leg 36 that is secured there in. At the time the shelf 20 is fabricated, the blank of metal from which the shelf is formed is stamped to form the side walls and to form the guide 400, the channel legs dtland 40b being struck from the material of the main panel 25 and the side wall 22. The opposite or opposing side wall 21 is also provided with an inwardly turned flange retaining portion 40 defining a channel shaped guide 400 identical to the one just described above. The front shelf side wall 23 has a pair of slots 41 (only one being shown) and the long clip leg 37 is adapted to be reciprocated in the slot 41 to enable the shelf 20 to be attachedand detached from the cabinet. As the clip 35 is reciprocated, rearward movement is limited by the tab 42 which is struck downwardly from the main panel 25. Forward movement of the clip 35 is limited by the front. Wall 23 as theouter end'of the short leg 36 is engaged thereagainst. Thetab 42 and the front wall 23 cooperate together to provide stops to limit forward and rearward movement of the clip 35'.

In FIGURES 5 and 6 is illustrated a slightly modified form of my cabinet 10* in that a vertical divider section 45 is mounted interiorly of the cabinet beneath the shelf 20. Strips 46 hearing hooks 47- are secured wtih the divider section 45. Any suitable number-of shelves 48' can be mounted on the hooks and supported from similar hooks (not shown) on the cabinet side wall 12; The upper end of the divider section 45 is adapted to engage against the underside of the shelf to support the shelf between its ends. Also, a modified hanger rock assembly 26- is mounted .beneath the shelf 20.v The hanger rackassembly 26 is identical to the hanger rack assembly 26 only hanger rack 30" is shorter in length.

In FIGURE 12 is shown another modified form of my invention wherein primed reference numerals have been employed to identify a modified cabinet 10'. The shelf 20 is identical to the shelf previously described. In this form of my invention, the cabinet 10 has a rear wall 11' which is provided with hooks 17' that are struck from the material ofthe rear wallof the cabinet. The shelf 20 is mounted on the cabinet in the same manner as in the previously described form of nay-invention except for this change.

In all forms of my invention, the clips are provided with the locking grooves 37a for engagement with edges of the slots in thecabinet margins 14 and to. secure the shelves to the cabinet or to an open sided shelving structure includingfour rectangularly arranged upright slotted posts. a l Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood: that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shelf, V a

means for securing the shelf to a cabinet comprising a U-shaped slidable clip with one legof the U being longer than an adjacent leg,

the shelf having an inwardly turned retaining flange portion adjacent a side wall of the shelf and cooperable with the side wall indefining a channel shaped guide with'the shorter leg of said clip slidablyretained inassembly with said" channel-shaped guide, and

another side wall ofsaid shelf being normalto-said side wall and having a slot and with an end of said longer leg being extendible through said slot for locking the shelf to a c abinet 2. A shelf,

means for securing the shelf toa cabinet comprising a U-shaped slidable clip with one leg of the U bein longer than an adjacent leg,

' the shelfhaving aninwardly turned retaining flange portion adjacent a side wall of} the shelfand coop-t 'erable with the side wall indefining a channel-shaped; guide with the shorter leg of said clip slidably retained in assembly with said channel-shaped guide, and y another side wall of said shelf being normal to said side walland having aslot and with an end Of said longer leg being extendible through said slot for locking the shelf to a cabinet,

said longer leg having a locking groove adjacent its outer end for lockedengagement with, a Wall,

4 U-shaped slidable clip with one leg of the U being longer than an adjacent leg, the shelf having an inwardly turned retaining flange portion adjacent aside wall of the shelf and cooperable with the side wall in defining a channel-shaped guide with the shorter leg of said clip slidably retained in assembly with said channel-shaped guide, and another side wall of said shelf being normal to said side Wall and having a slot and with an end of said longer leg bein extendible through said slot for locking the shelf to a cabinet,

said longer leg having an angled reinforcing por- 'tion between its outer end andv the bottom of 7 1e U slidingly engageable with an underside of said shelf. 7 4. A shelf,

means for securing the shelf to a cabinet comprising a U-shaped slidable clip with one leg of the U being longer than an adjacent leg, 7 the shelf having an inwardly turned retaining flange portion adjacent a side wall of the shelf and cooperable with the side wall in defining a channel-shaped guide with the shorter leg of said clip slidably retained in assembly with said channel-shaped guide, andanother side Wall of said shelfbeing normal to said side wall and having a slot and with an end of said longer leg'being extendible through said slot for locking the shelf to a cabinet,

said clip comprising a length of strip stock with the length of each leg being greater than the width of the clip. 5. A shelf, a means for securing the shelf to a cabinet comprising a U-shaped slidable clip with one leg of the U being longer than an adjacent leg, the shelf having an inwardly turned retaining flange portion adjacent a side wall of the shelf and cooperable with'the side wall in defining a channelshaped guide with one of said legs of said clip slidably retained in assembly with said channelgshaped g another side wall of said shelf being normal to. said sidewall and having a slot and withv an end of said. longer leg being extendible through said slot for locking said shelf to a cabinet, and means defining stops limitingback and forth movement of said legs with respect to said channel-shaped guide. 6 A shelf, means for securing the. shelf to, a cabinet. comprising a U-shaped slidable clip with one leg of the U being. longer than anadjacent leg, the shelf having an inwardly turned, retaining flange portion adjacent a side wall of the shelf and co operable with the side Wall in defining a channelshap'ed guide with one of said legs of said clip. slid.- ably retained in assemblywith said channel-shaped guide, and means defining stops limiting back and forth movement of said legs with respect to said channehshaped guide,

said last mentioned meanscomprising another side Wall defining one of said stops with an outer end of said shorter leg being engageable there-- against limiting movement of .said clip in one direction and with the other of said stops comprising a tab extending from said shelf and cooperable with a bottom of the U of said clip limiting movement of said clip in an opposite direction. 7 7. A parallel sided shelf, comprising a top-shelf panel having side walls at, its four sides, means for securing the shelf to a cabinet comprising a U-shaped slidable clip with one leg of the U being longer than an adjacent leg,

one of said side walls being cooperable with said topshelf panel in defining an inwardly turned retaining flange portion and with said retaining flange portion being cooperable with said one of the side walls in defining a channel-shaped guide with one of said legs of said clip slidably retained in assembly with said channel-shaped guide, and

another of said side walls adjacent said one of said side walls having a slot and with an end of said longer leg being extendible through said slot for locking said shelf to a cabinet.

8. The shelf of claim 7 further characterized by being in combination with a cabinet having a rear-cabinet wall having shelf-support hooks with a rearmost of said side walls on said shelf being supported on said cabinet by said hooks.

9. In combination,

a storage cabinet and a parallel-sided shelf, the cabinet having a rear-cabinet panel having shelf-supporting hooks and forward margins having shelf-supporting ledges,

a pair of U-shaped slidable clips with each clip having one leg of the U being longer than an adjacent leg, 2

said shelf comprising a top-shelf panel having side Walls at its four sides including front and rear side walls, and the shelf having inwardly turned retaining flange portions adjacent an opposing pair of said side walls of the shelf and with said retaining flange portions being cooperable with the opposing side walls in defining channel-shaped guides with one of said legs of each of said clips slidably retained in assembly with said channel-shaped guides,

said rear side wall being supported on said rearcabinet panel by said hooks, said front side wall having transversely-spaced slots and with said clips having said longer leg extendible through said slots for supporting said shelf on said ledges of said cabinet. 10. The combination of claim 9 further characterzied by said supporting hooks being integral with and struck from material of said rear-cabinet panel,

11. A shelf,

means for securing the shelf to a supporting structure comprising a slidable clip,

the shelf having an inwardly turned retaining flange portion adjacent a side wall of the shelf and cooperable with the side wall in defining a channelshaped guide with a portion of said clip slidably retained in assembly with said channel-shaped guide,

another side wall of said shelf having a slot and with an end of said clip being extendible through said slot for locking said shelf to a supporting structure, and means defining stops limiting back and forth movement of said clip with respect to said channelshaped guide.

12. A shelf,

means for securing the shelf to a supporting structure comprising a slidable metal clip,

the shelf having an inwardly turned retaining flange portion adjacent a side wall of the shelf and cooperable with the side wall in defining a channelshaped guide with said clip slidably retained in assembly with said channel-shaped guide,

another side wall of said shelf having a slot with an end of said longer leg being extendible through said slot for locking said shelf to a supporting structure,

means defining stops limiting back and forth movement of said legs with respect to said channel-shaped guide, and groove means on an outer end of said clip for locking the clip with a ledge on a supporting structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 721,404 Wege Feb. 24, 1903 1,782,344 Gourley -3 Nov. 18, 1930 1,937,935 Zimmerman Dec. 5, 1933 2,252,570 Knuth Aug. 12, 1941 2,667,401 Knuth Jan. 26, 1954 2,791,479 Jasin May 7, 1957 3,023,068 Haag Feb. 27, 1962 3,042,473 Vincens July 3, 1962 3,100,460 McElroy Aug. 13, 1963 

1. A SHELF, MEANS FOR SECURING THE SHELF TO A CABINET COMPRISING A U-SHAPED SLIDABLE CLIP WITH ONE LEG OF THE U BEING LONGER THAN AN ADJACENT LEG, THE SHELF HAVING AN INWARDLY TURNED RETAINING FLANGE PORTION ADJACENT A SIDE WALL OF THE SHELF AND COOPERABLE WITH THE SIDE WALL IN DEFINING A CHANNEL-SHAPED GUIDE WITH THE SHORTER LEG OF SAID CLIP SLIDABLY RETAINED IN ASSEMBLY WITH SAID CHANNEL-SHAPED GUIDE, AND ANOTHER SIDE WALL OF SAID SHELF BEING NORMAL TO SAID SIDE WALL AND HAVING A SLOT AND WITH AN END OF SAID LONGER LEG BEING EXTENDIBLE THROUGH SAID SLOT FOR LOCKING THE SHELF TO A CABINET. 